Fire-ladder



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. J. SUTHERLAND.

FIRE LADDER.

Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

N. PETERS. Phuwir! 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. J. SUTHERLAND.

I FIRE LADDER. No. 390,626. 8 Patented 001;. 2, 1888.

v t g Win @8868.

(NoModelj) v v 3 sheets sheet 3. A. J. SUTHERLAND.

FIRE LADDER.

No. 390,626. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

NTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREW J. SUTHERLAND, OF BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,626, dated Getober 2, 1888.

Application filed January 19, 1887. Renewed March 7, 1888. Serial No. 266,486. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. SUTHER- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Fire-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the edgewiserais ing fire-ladder disclosed in patent toHarris, No. 311,981, February 10, 1885.

The invention has for its object certain improvements in raising and handling the ladder, substantially as below described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the truck and ladder; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, the ladder detached from the truck; Fig. 4, a section on line 1 1 in Fig. 5; Fig. 5, a broken vertical section, below described; Fig. 6, an elevation of the ladder and device for handling, looking from a point at the left of Fig. 7, the base of the figure being in section; Fig. 7, a view looking from a point at the right of Fig. 6; Fig. -8, enlarged lettered details from Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a plan of part G in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig- 10, a plan of the gears at base of the ladders; Fig. 11, an enlarged lettered detail from Fig. 2; Fig. 12, enlarged details of parts in Fig.6 and connections in the ladder construction; Fig. 13, parts in Fig. 1, showing the operation of raising the ladder; Fig. 14, an enlarged detail of the elevating-lever in Figs. 1 and 13; Fig. 15, a plan of Fig. 14, with parts broken; and Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the elevating mechanism in Fig. 13, looking from a point at the right of said latter figure.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, the well-shaped ladder-box P, with upper platform, A, lower platform, H, and steps, wheels I, and ladders D J are similar to these parts in the patent above referred to; but in this construction I am enabled to lower the platform A, and I employ two parallel foundation-beams, B B, in lieu of one, as heretofore. These beams B extend through the opening in the rear side of the box P, and extend to the forward wall of the box, Figs. 2 and 11, and are secured to the wall by a slotted casting, g, bolted to the beams and to the wall. Pendent from these beams B, near the rear opening inthe box,are arms X L, to the lower end of which the upper end of the arms L of the hinged ladderbase G F is pivoted, Fig. 12.

The ladder-base consists of an internal gear, F, and a plate, G, above,mounted upon a central pivot at 6, Figs. 6, 7, 9, and 10. The base of the ladder D is hinged to the plate G atl 1, so as to tilt to different positions after the ladder is elevated, Fig. 7. This base is in the bottom of the box P, and when the ladder is down on its edge on the truck, Figs. 1 and 2, the base stands edgewise, it having been swung up on its hinge by the ladder when it swung down. The base is horizontal when the ladder is upright, Fig. 6. This base, being metal and well removed from its hinge-fulcrum, constitutes a weight to assist in raising the ladder.

At E E are shown two levers having a roller, m, at the top, upon which roller the lower edge of the ladder when down rests, on the rear edge when up. These levers are provided with semicircular portions or half-wheels R, having a portion of their periphery or rim grooved, as in Figs. 14 and 15. Centrally between the points where the rims of the halfwheels join the levers E the latter are journaled upon a shaft, which shaft is elevated above the beams B and supported by the upright posts N. The upper ends of the posts are attached to the truss-rods n at the apex; but just where the posts are or how high is a matter of choice, so long as they are well in the rear of the laddenbase, or, rather, the hinge of said base. Referring to Fig. 18, O is a windlass journaled to the beams B B, with a crank on both ends, Fig. 2. The rope or cable 'r is attached to the Windlass and winch thereon when raising the ladder. This Windlass is between the fulcrum of the ladder and levers E. The cables 0' extend back over pulleys t, which pulleys are attached to the beams B in the rear of the fulcrum of the levers E. From pulley i the ropes pass forward over the end of the levers E, and anchored thereto, either near the fulcrum, as in Figs. 14 and 15, or the ropes may extend to near the free end of the levers E and be attached, as in Fig. 18. At 7 is a stud projecting from the lever, to which the ropes are connected, or they may pass through a hole in the end of the stud 7. The ropes thus act as a sort of truss to the levers E when raising the'ladder when the levers are down,

ICO

as in Fig. 1. The ropes are in the grooves of the half-wheels It. In Fig. 13 the ropes have been wound on the \vindlass C, and the halfwheels and levers swing up in the act of raising the ladder. IVhen in this position, the grooves in the half-wheels have left the ropes. The ladder is let down by reversing the rotation of the Windlass.

In Fig.13, Zis a rope which may be employed, attached to the Windlass, so as to wind up when rope r is unwinding. The upper end of rope Z is attached to the edge of the ladder. This rope Z, when employed, is to pull on the ladder when swinging it down on the truck until the ladder is at an angle where the top overbalances the weightedbase.

Returning to Figs. 14 and 15, it is shown how the levers E may be connected to the ends of a sleeve, T, and said sleeve rotates on shaft 0; butjust how the levers E are fulcrumed is a matter of choice.

In Figs. 3 and 6 the ladder D is provided with a Windlass, b. A rope, e, is attached to the Windlass, passes over a pulley, d, which pulley is attached to the ladder D near its upper end, and from thence the rope 0 passes down and is attached to the lower end of the inner or extensible ladder, J. A rope, e, is attached to the windlass b and to the ladder J at a suitable point above the windlass. These ropes c 0 wind and unwind on the Windlass in opposite order,one winding up when the other unwinds. Thus the ladder J is elevated and held from falling by its own weight by the oppositely-winding ropes, thus being entirely under the control of the man at the windlass at all points in its ascent and fall. When the ladder J rises, the rounds contact with the rests c c and swing them up, allowing the rounds to pass, the same as in the prior patent referred to in the foregoing description. The rounds above the rests c, by stopping the ladder J, rest on said rests, thus holding the ladder at desired heights; but in this instance I provide the ladder D with recessed lugs 8, within the outer face of the ladder, Figs. 4.- and 5, and provide the free end of the rests with a lug. 9, on the under side to fit into the recess of the lugs S,thus securing greater safety and a more finished construction. The rests e are raised by rope z when desiring to let the ladder J down within the other. These rests are attached to the ladder at some desirable point near the upper end of the lower section of the ladder, as in said former patent.

In Figs. 6 and 7, O is a framesecured to the plate G at at 5, and extends (when the ladderbase is horizontal) above the plate parallel with the ladder D. This frame and connecting parts swing up and down with the ladder D, Figs. 1 and 2 showing them in their down position. S is a shaft parallel with the frame C, its lower end extending through the plate G, and having bearings therein at 2. The

lower end is provided with a pinion, K, mesl1- ing wlth the internal gear, F. The upper end of the shaft S is journaled in a cross-bar, 11,

of the frame 0, and is gear-connected with a crank-shaft at gf. Posts l0 l0 assist in supporting the cross-bar 11, Fig. (i, and are attached at the lower end to the plate G at 3 3, Figs. 6 and 9. By turning the crank-shaft to revolve the shaft S and its pinion K the plate G is rotated, and "thus the ladder D is turned from facing in one direction to face in another direetion, so as to be tilted over to the particular point on the roof of a building, or to whatever window desired.

Near the upper end of the frame 0 is journaled a crank-shaft bearing gears a a. Just above is another shaft provided with gears a a, meshing with the gears a a, and also provided at the ends with spools y 7 A rope or cable, a, extends from one spool y to the other around the ladder D. The loop of the rope which is around the ladder is secured to the latter by staples 12, Fig. 8, or by other suitable means. By means of this mechanism the spools y y are rotated in one direction to allow the rope o to unwind when letting the ladder D tilt over on its hinges 1 1, and are rotated in the other direction to wind the rope o in tilting the ladder from a lower to a higher angle. (See the dotted position of the ladder D and rope o in Fig. 7.) By this means a safe and perfect control is bad of the ladder at all angles in tilting it on its hinge 1 1. Any other suitable construction may be employed for operating the rope o. On the crank-shaft which operates the spools y y is a gear, a, and at a is a rack meshing with said gear to assist in pushing the ladder away from the frame 0 when starting to tilt said ladder from a perpendicular angle. WVhen the ladder reaches the oblique angle it occupies at the time the rack 11. leaves the gear a, it will swing or tilt down by its own weight, and it is at this stage in the operation that the ladder is sustained from tilting too fast by the rope v. The rack a is pivoted to the ladder at one end, Fig. 8, so that it will assume the proper angles and swing down parallel with the ladder when not in use, Fig. 6. This rack in most instances may not be necessary.

In Fig. 6, '10 is a hooked lever pivoted to the front wall of the ladder-box or other support to catch over the front edge of the ladder-base to hold the ladder in its raised position.

As it is not always necessary to lock the ladder-base, I have only briefly referred to this feature.

Deeming the construction and operation will be fully understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, what I claim 1s-- 1. The combination of the ladder fulcrumed at its base to rise edgewise, the lovers having the half-wheels fulcrumed, as shown, a truck having a suitable foundation, and a Windlass and ropes or cables for operating said levers, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the truck having the foundation-beams, a ladder fulcrumed at its base to said beams, the levers having the half-wheels, the shaft forming a fulcrum to IIO said levers, the posts extending upward from the foundation-beams and supporting said shaft, a Windlass having bearings forward of the lever-fulcrum, pulleys in the rear of said fulcrum, and ropes or cables attached to the lever half-wheels, passing around the pulleys and attached to the Windlass, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a ladder fulcrumed at its base, levers fulcrumed in the rear of the ladder-fulcrum for raising said ladder, a windlass between the said fulcrums, pulleys in the rear of the lever-fulcrum, ropes or cables attached to the Windlass and levers and passing around the pulleys, and a rope attached to the ladder and Windlass for pulling the ladder down when the levers are lowered, substantially as set forth.

4. The outer ladder provided with the recessed lugs and with the swinging ladder-rests having the projection to fit into the recess of of said lugs, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a truck provided with suitable foundation-beams, the ladderbase fulcrumed at its rear edge to said beams, said base consisting of the internal gear and the centrally-pivoted plate above said gear,

the ladder hinged to said plate, a frame attached to the plate and parallel with the upright ladder, said frame havinga crank-shaft, 3o andashaftgear-connectedwithsaidcrank-shaft and the lower end passed through the plate and provided with a pinion meshing with the internal gear, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the rotatable plate of 3 5 the ladder-base, the ladder hinged thereto, the frame attached to the plate and provided with the shaft bearing the spools, the crank-shaft below, said shafts being gear-connected, and a rope or cable attached to the spools and looped around the ladder, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the upright frame provided with a crank-shaft and pinion, and a ladder hinged to tilt down and provided with the pivotally-oonnecting rack engaging said pinion, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. SUTHERLAND.

Witnesses:

WILL. R. PHILLIPS, GEORGE W. ll/IEOHEM. 

